Dec 01 2008
Quick Recommendation: Nightmare City (aka City of the Walking Dead, 1980)
Umberto Lenzi’s Nightmare City (aka City of the Walking Dead, 1980) is a European zombie film that stands out as a sleazy gore epic. It stars the famous character actor Hugo Stiglitz (Tintorera, 1977), Laura Trotter, Stefania D’Amario (from Lucio Fulci’s Zombie, 1979), and Mel Ferrer (Eaten Alive, 1976).
Reporter Dean Miller (Stiglitz) goes to the airport to interview a scientist about a radioactive leak from a nearby nuclear power plant. An aircraft with an unresponsive pilot lands. After all attempted radio contacts have been ingored, the military is called in. Zombies emerge from the airplane, killing all of the military personnel in their wake; they carry out their assault with machine guns, chains, knives and any other weapon that they can get their hands on. Zombies storm the city, infecting victims and drinking their blood, leaving Miller and his wife, Anna, to escape to safety.
This film will appeal to fans of European zombie/cannibal films. Those who enjoyed Zack Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead (2004) and 28 Days Later (2002) will see the beginnings of fast-moving, weapon using zombies in this very film. It is available on region one DVD through Anchor Bay Entertainment and Blue Underground.
